Wenger said he has never had to deal with so much strife in his 15-year reign as players wanted to jump ship after the departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.

"This summer was the most agitated I've ever known. I had half the players in the dressing room who wanted to leave," he revealed.

"You prepare a season, we go to Asia, we don't know who's coming, the players who are still there are asking themselves what is happening and if an earthquake is hitting the club. It's extraordinarily difficult.

"I think that what saved us is that we are a club which is extremely solid and united. There are many other clubs who would have exploded."